Why It Takes Five to Seven Years to Become the Pastor of a Church

You are the new pastor of the church. Expectations are high on your part and on the members’ part. Perhaps you celebrate with some type of installation service.

You are ready to lead and move the church forward. After all, you are the pastor. Right?

Wrong.

In most established churches, there is a prolonged period before the church members as a whole will truly embrace you as pastor. When that time comes, most pastors enjoy their greatest and most joyous years of ministry.

But the majority of pastors never make it to year five, much less year seven. So why does it take five to seven years to be embraced as the pastor of most established churches? Here are seven common reasons.

It takes a long time to break into established relationship patterns. Many of the members have been around for decades. They have their friends, family members, and relationship groups. Pastors will not meaningfully enter into many of those relationships for several years.

You are creating new ways of doing things. You may not think you are a major change agent, but your presence as the pastor changes things significantly. You lead differently. You preach differently. Your family is different. The church has to adjust to all the changes you bring before they begin to embrace you fully as pastor.

Most relationships do not establish fully until they go through one or two major conflicts. The first year or two are your honeymoon years. The church thinks you are absolutely great. Then you do something, lead something, or change something that goes counter to their expectations. Conflict ensues. You are no longer the best. So you have two years of honeymoon, one to two years of conflict, and one to two years to get on the other side of conflict. Then you become the pastor in five to seven years.

The church is accustomed to short-term pastorates. Many churches rarely see a pastor make it to the fifth, sixth, or seventh year. They never fully accept the pastor, because they don’t believe the leader will make it past the first major conflict.

Previous pastors wounded some church members. There are many reasons for this reality, some understandable and some not. In either case, a previous pastor hurt some church members, and the members take several years to accept a new pastor and learn to trust again.

Trust is cumulative, not immediate. This reality is especially true in established churches. Regardless of how the ministry unfolds, it simply takes time before church members are willing to say with conviction, “That is my pastor.”

I know. I wish we could snap our fingers and enjoy immediate trust. But, in most churches, it just is not going to happen quickly. It will take five to seven years.

Are you willing to stick around to enjoy the fruit of a long-term pastorate?

Comments

Great post. I love your site and visit it regularly because of the great content.

I am approaching the one year mark in my current pastorate. I believe the five to seven year time frame to “really” become the pastor is probably dead on. I am hopeful that through faithful shepherding, diligent pastoral visitation, good leadership, handling conflict well, etc. that the number can be reduced somewhat.

Yes, I couldn’t agree more. I would say this is especially so for younger pastors. I’ll turn 35 this week and I’m 4 1/2 years into my first pastorate; there’s another year or two, I figure, before every last person here (I would even say, whether they realize it or not) really believes I have no plans on being anywhere else than right here, enjoying the fruit of a long-term pastorate.

Just started a new pastorate at age 62 with a church that needs significant revitalization in the Midwest. Your post is a good reminder for me. I have made a commitment to be here until I’m 70. Right about the time I’ll be ready to “shift gears” I’ll be their pastor. I get that. I’m following a long pastorate. And I’m OK with that. Depending on the circumstances, the honeymoon can be relatively short. I’ve already got a good deal of tension that I figure was bequeathed to me by the search team and the previous pastor because it was too difficult to deal with. I know that if I negotiate it properly, I’ll gain a good deal of trust. Deal with it poorly and I’ll already have my “first crisis.” Reinforces the imperative to be a man of prayer. I’m grateful for that.

I’ve also served on the West Coast where I think the rules can be a bit different, especially in larger cities where the population is much more transient and constant change is a way of life. But you were spot on for the Midwest in your post. Thanks for the reminder and your wisdom.

Alan, I too am 62 and embarking on my first church as Pastor. I don’t sense conflict, but weariness and hope. Like you, I’m hopeful to be with them for 10 years. Yet recognizing there is always,more to discover and uncover culturally and Ingraim patterns that,can go decades back to cope/learn about. I’m on the east coast in New England, a on the west coast, southeast, midwest.

Bless you, Charlotte. More than anything, cultivate a deep prayer life. Second, love your people deeply and cultivate an affection for them. God will give you that grace and your ministry will be fruitful.

I do not agree with the conclusions in this post. I understand having an opinion on these issues, but I have yet to see research that backs up the claim of it taking so long for people to accept you as their pastor. My own research has seen more pastors have declining ministry after year 7 or 8 as opposed to increased impact as this post claims. Can you point me to some research that supports this post? Thank you for your ministry and especially for providing links to so many resources about ministry.

Dennis,
I will neither agree or disagree with your statement. I would suspect that the post is formulated on the basis of extensive first hand experience rather than statistical analysis. That said, I find that this post has been true for me, but not universally true. Right at the outset I had to deal with some very contentious issues in my current pastorate. Through God’s leadership I guess I would say that I navigated it well. There are many who jumped on the bandwagon early, some Of those people admitted that they didn’t want to like me because they liked the previous pastor so much and there was bad blood surrounding his departure. But the vast majority of those in leadership were quick to join with me. The prime reason, I think, is that I worked hard and have labored to remain transparent. that said, I think they trust me to lead, but my folks are often described as clannish. Because this is so, my family isn’t included in a lot of things. I am not sure that will ever change. You would have to see my town to understand it.

I think Dan brings in a good point Dennis. While I am in my first pastorate I would truthfully say when you become pastor depends on context somewhat. In my context, rural historic church, with a history of 2-4 year tenures it did take a while to be trusted as pastor. Not quite 5 years but I had to “do pastoring” early on with countless funerals and other life transitions. Couple with the pace of life at my church, we’ve been around for 375 years and nothing happens overnight. But I have friends in a different context – more urban with a different history and demographic, and it doesn’t take 5-7 years because there isn’t a history of longevity.

All of you are on target. My information is not based on objective data, but three decades of working with thousands of church and their leaders. Also, you are correct that my analysis does not have universal application, but it does hit home for a lot of people.

So true! Ours was a church plant in 2013. At that time, they couldn’t even label me as their pastor. I didn’t mind, I kept going. Then in the middle of 2014, there was a power struggle and our small church was split right in half! Those that remained are still with us and by now I could feel some has started to acknowledge me as their pastor. Yes, #6 was so true. I had to build trust upon trust. And by now some of the members really calls me Pastor!

The Lord has kept me here for 4 years now and I have no intention of leaving — not until the God says so.

This is the very reason church revitalization is so difficult. Most churches wait until desperation sets in to begin thinking of revitalization, usually with less than five years left in the life of the church. Since revitalizations are established churches pastors must go through this period and then begin the process of acting like a church planter with regard to new ministries and structure changes. Revitalization is as hard as planting and pastoring established churches, each has its own unique set of issues and rewards!

Good article. If I might add a comment, don’t let it upset you when people speak well of your predecessor. I know it can be annoying at times, but it’s a healthy sign more often than not. Over time, that loyalty and respect can be transferred to you. It’s far more dangerous if the people are running down your predecessor, because that contempt might eventually be transferred to you as well.

Great post. We just lost a pastor a week ago. He was taking over from the pastor/founder of our church. I believe he resigned because of #3. The conflicts wore him down. Do you have any suggestions about handling conflicts when working to become the pastor of a church or succeeding the previous pastor?

In my case, I realized after year 5 that my church was dying. After reading Autopsy of a Deceased Church, I brought this book to my deacons and asked them to read it. We had every symptom listed, but they disagreed and said we had none of the symptoms. I spent year 6 trying to lead them to change (and life). It was utterly rejected, as was I. I realized after much prayerful consideration that we were in fact lifeless and they were ok with that. God gave me my release, and through His direction I resigned and planted a new church. I am approaching the 1 year anniversary of my church plant and although it has not been easy (still isn’t), I have never felt the freedom top preach and lead like I do now. Thank you for your articles, they are very much appreciated.

Hi Thom,
Thank you for your insights outlined in this article. Having been the pastor of our church for the past 20 years, my wife & I experienced almost exactly the scenario you described. Our folk had been accustomed to having a pastor stay from 2-5 years while the pastor attended seminary. That arrangement held sway for the majority of the church’s 158 year history.
When we were interviewed by the pulpit committee, I told them that we were committed to stay there until I died or they decided I was no longer wanted or needed. Apparently, they originally didn’t believe that we would stay. It took nearly 6 or 7 years, but once we moved past that time period our folk really opened up and the ministry began to flourish.
I believe that, in our situation at least, that the folk were not willing to trust and commit to following our leadership and invest their spiritual energy if they thought that my wife & I would be leaving within 2-5 years.
We are so grateful to God for the 20 years of ministry that we’ve had with the best folk that any pastor could hope to have. The first Sunday of this month we began our 21st year of serving the folk of our church family. We’re excited to see what God has yet for us to do in the time ahead of us.

I have seen this all too often in our denomination. In my experience as the pastor of the same congregation for over 28 years, I have watched young pastors arrive at their appointment, only to watch them walk away in less than 5 years. Receiving the appointment to pastor is not the same as developing a pastoral (shepherd) heart for the people they serve. Regarding #3 in your talking points, over 28 years ago, my first Sunday as pastor, my piano player left the church. Why? When I asked for my wife to come and play instead of her (This was a habit since my wife had always played for me during the prayer time). She got mad and never came back. Much has changed but I learned not to ask for my “honey” to come to the piano that very day. I have many stories of conflict and conflict resolution from my twenty-eight years of experience. Over the years, I willingly made changes in my life,not for the piano player who left, but to ensure that I could love a small congregation of people through a tough transitions. Sometimes it worked, sometimes, not so good! Dr. Rainer, young pastors could really learn something from this article. I hope and pray they take it to heart.

Good article. Regardless of the exact timetable, the principles of the article are right on target. In the final analysis, prayer, patience, and tenure reap rewards. I am in my 14th year as senior pastor of this church, and getting to this point has been very painful at times, including a “coup attempt” by one of the other ministers on staff which brought about a loss of 20% of our congregation. Even so, the last 7 years have been far more fruitful than the first 7 years. Thank God for His sustaining power! There are been times I’ve felt hurt enough and angry enough to quit…but by God’s grace I didn’t. It is absolutely worth going through such pain to get to the other side!

I love the wisdom that is imparted through your site. Keep it up. I have worked my whole ministry basically as an interim pastor. Only once have I stayed more than five years. Do you have any wisdom on this subject?

There are many small churches that have had pastors for more than 5 years that are just as dead as any other church. The old theory that if you are patient enough and wait long enough you will become the pastor and they will follow you is problematic.

1. Many of the practices in many of these churches are unbiblical.
2. Many of the power brokers in many of these churches are mean spirited and failure to rain that in lends to the idea that the pastor supports it. Reigning it in starts a conflict in the church where people leave.
3. Voting on a pastor (which suggests you believe God called him) and then not seeing him as pastor is a direct failure to trust God. If you have doubts God called him then do not vote for him.

This post is very idealistic but often fails when rubber meets the road.

While I agree with you on all counts as to why it takes so long for most pastors to actually become the pastor, I disagree with being okay with it. As widely stated and confirmed, there are more declining established churches than growing, many of which will not live another five years. I cannot find anywhere in the Bible where Paul tells pastors to simply tread water for five years and then get to work. Nor to a church to test the pastor for that time period before you follow him. However, if you try to do anything of consequence before then, be prepared to pay the price. It is my opinion this is one of the major reasons churches are dying. They refuse to follow leadership and instead defer to preferences, personal relationships, and the past.
I am the pastor of such a church and have been here just under three years. The church was in dire need of revitalization or go under. In spite of the problems, God blessed us with many salvations, baptisms, and additions. A year ago it came to a head and things became increasingly ugly. By God’s grace we are now coming out of it. The church is still here and ministry is exciting again. However, it is much like the Israelites who went into the Promised Land, a completely different group of people.
Accepting this five year holding pattern does more damage than good, to the church and to the pastor’s ability to ever truly lead. How many people could be reached in that amount of time? I am trying to let the past year remain in the past. But I and my family have paid a terrible price that has definitely left a scar.

I think, while it is important to realize it takes time to work into being fully recognized as pastor it is also incumbent to be ushering in needed change. From my context, while it took me years to be completely trusted and viewed as pastor the acceptance only came after showing commitment to the Parish. There were some things and some levels of trust that came quickly and others that didn’t. But that didn’t change my desire to lead change. Part of the wisdom of “it takes time” is sometimes it does but there are incremental steps that can be taken that may speed up the process.

I respect your viewpoint, but there’s another side to the proverbial coin. Pastors sometimes cause unnecessary conflict and even destroy churches because they tried to do too much too quickly. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I do advise you to check your motives. There’s a very fine line between zeal and impatience. The latter is not of God.

Great post and insightful reminders. I wonder how to handle this when the church you are called to might not have 7 years of life left in it (meaning they called because they knew they were already very small and on the path of a “dieing church”) … so the expectations and needs are high and the urgency to turn the ship sooner than later is also there…. it is a hard balance when you know what to do but the “changes” are just to much in addition to the changes you mention above … how in the world to you balance that?

Interesting. The first Sunday of September will be my 5 year anniversary as pastor of our church. The church I pastor is a multisite (probably better described as a network church since I do my own preaching). I served as Kids Pastor for 18 years at the “main” church before being asked by my boss and pastor to take this position as pastor of a church revitalization/multisite. The church had had a pastor with a very public moral failure, followed by three or four pastors who had 1 to 2 year stays with lots of turmoil, so bad that the denomination was planning to close the church, until my pastor offered to take it on as multisite..
Thom, how does the timeline apply in my situation? I can see how I’ve been going through the steps you outline. We have seen tremendous growth from less than 25 in attendance to close to about 275. Judging by the spirit of excitement and sense of community within the church, it feels as though we are on the cusp of a real growth breakthrough.
I really appreciate your materials and books. I’ve especially found the book “Essential Church” a valuable resource. In fact, I quoted from the book yesterday as I preached on “Strong Faith Builds Strong Families”. “Simple Church” has been a real help as we have grown, not to take on too many or too much, but to focus on what we do well.
Any recommendations on resources for where we are now?

My first pastorate only lasted 11 months. I was forced to deal with an issue 2 months into it. While I gained the respect of many, there was a strong clique that comprised 20 percent of the church and they were ready to run me away. Although I did not want the assignment of cleaning house, it happened. Now the current pastor is able to do things with a great deal of ease because those who want to move forward now have a voice.

At 68 I am serving my 6th church after I thought I had retired 3 years ago. and thought I left the ministry over tens ago (lasted for 1 year). I have had tenures from 1 1/2 years to 10 years. The church I am now serving is a small rural church (and is 180 years old) that has accepted me as pastor almost from the beginning. This did not happen at any of the other 5 churches I served, two of which were over 7 years and never really felt accepted as their pastor but only a hireling. Of course I did pulpit supply and 6 months of interim for them. My intention was not to become their pastor but the Lord had different plans. We are now in a revitalization stage.

From the beginning (even as interim) I have been asked for direction, opinion, etc. on how to do or what to do, including financial decisions. I have never seen a church, although I am sure there are many, that have such a respect not only for the office of pastor but for the serving pastor as well. I have said before, I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. I know this is the exception and not the usual. Feeling blessed.

Is this reality a good way to motivate pastors to bring a successor alongside of them throughout the “7 years?” To do it in a way that is openly communicated and authentic. Then the new pastor has the support of the existing pastor and an assimilation period almost.
Or really is it counter-intuitive since the church is likely to feel the need to choose one or the other?

I wonder if this why some churches tend have a pastors that are related to one another such father and son or son in-law or maybe someone who has grown up in that church? It seem that the situation mentioned above lends itself easily to such a transition. Why is it that churches fail raise up the next pastor from within the local body?
Some of the best churches the Lord has allowed me to be a part of have sent men out in the ministry and also have raised men up who are serving the same local church as a pastor.

The corollary to Ken’s comment above (when congregation speaks well of previous pastors): pay special attention when the congregation doesn’t speak highly of previous pastors. I have (1) learned more about effective pastoring by hearing the errors of my predecessors, and (2) learned more about the potential pitfalls of ministry in this place. Sometimes it is in listening to the gripes about previous pastors that I can gain insights into the growing edges of the Parish – how to shine a light on their bias and misconception.

Don’t get me wrong; sometimes churches have very legitimate grievances against previous pastors. Still, when a congregation runs down its former pastor or pastors, it is cause for concern. It’s kind of like when the “check engine” light on your car comes on. It may not be anything serious, but it’s still wise to keep an eye on it.

Agree with all your points, but there are exceptions. 2 years ago we experienced an EF1 tornado that did over $2.8 million in damages. I was 1 1/2 years into my tenure here. Walking with them through that rebuild solidified my position. I am their pastor, without reservation. My point is that “trials by fire”, successfully navigated, can speed up the process. Final note: For all its numerous blessings, I would never want to repeat that grueling event.

This is so true even in the best of situations. When the church had a good relationship with the previous pastor, it is best to celebrate the time he was there and walk through the change with them. Don’t try to undermine or criticize your predecessor. Love on them, and they will respond.

In situations where the relationship with the previous pastor and the flock was strained or filled with conflict, there can be more difficulties. The trust level with the new pastor is already going to be quickly called into question when something does not suite the certain members. In other words, folk will quickly snap back into an old habit of distrust if that is what they have been accustomed to. It will take time and prayer. Continue to demonstrate Christ-centered conflict resolution. Love on them like they have never seen before. Stay close to your Savior no matter what. You are His under-shepherd to the flock.

I am glad for this article as you can tell. Less and less men are answering the call to ministry. Churches all over America are dying. A lot of times the weight is thrown on the pastor. It is all his fault while some folk sit back in offices or positions of influence strangling the church’s ability to move ahead from behind the scenes through church politics. One pastor recently told me that the church he became pastor of had three rules. 1. You cannot do it if we never did before. 2. You must do if we did before. 3. You cannot spend any money. How sad. Interestingly, he has been there for ten years, and they are finally starting to open up. My heart goes out to pastors such as this one. How many men would give ten years of their lives with only seeing a few things take place? While sticking it out is praise worthy for the pastor, it is truly a sad commentary on churches today that refuse to follow their pastor. Some would rather close their doors through a slow death than follow him. While their is a definite need of time to develop a deep relationship with the pastor, the church should never use it as an excuse to stay stuck in complacency nor other sinful patterns of behavior. Again this a problem in many churches. It is one reason, I believe there are fewer and fewer men answering the call. Let’s pray for revival in our churches!

Is this long adjustment period of tight rope walking into the graces of God’s people a fallout of the complete reversal of “appoint elders IN every church”? Hire a stranger from somewhere else seems to be the opposite. Acts 20 tells us it took Paul 3 years in Ephesus to lead pagans to Christ, then to eldering, oversight, and shepherding and then entrust the full work to them. “Fully training” students to “be like” their teacher is reproductive leadership that continues to reproduce, just as every living thing God created does. Luke 6:40 Our current pattern is way off the base line the apostolic “example” that is to be “imitated”, not tweaked over the centuries to fit personal preferences. 2Thes. 3:6-12. The current concept of shepherding is not even reproducible to local men who work in the marketplace. It needs to be carved down to the simplicity as instructed in the NT, instead of the complicated solitary expert focused traditions we have received from men. Revelation ought to trump tradition.

I agree completely. I’m 38, 3 years into my first senior pastorate after 18 years in youth ministry. I’ve discovered that churches with a high turn-over of pastors will only “give” you about 3 years of their life. Meaning, they won’t commit or invest in a relationship that will go deeper than 3 years. They don’t change their conversation to help you understand their lives. This all means that new pastors must mentally, spiritually, and emotionally commit to sticking around despite what seems to be a lack of interest in a real relationship with you. People just don’t want to get hurt when someone leaves and the relationship is broken. It’s really not personal. So, we as pastor’s must be prepared for relationships to be shallower until people are willing to really commit to it. This is always easier said than done, but it is what we are called to do. We are called to love all people as if we will love them until the day they die.

I am an associate pastor of a church plant (200 people attend) that is 7 years old in a rural community. I was bi-vocational until this year. I am now on staff full time with a transition plan when the lead pastor retires in a few years. Few churches fail to make a plan of training and transition for leaders /pastors in there church. We have had a plan since day one. Until a church defines its Core Values and vision no pastor will have a easy transition. I thinks its more about a fellowship having a clear plan of transition than it is about the time it takes for the pastor to fit in. Fellowships need to set a plan in motion to encourage any new pastor to be more than an employee of the church. They need to trust that God has called this person to be the shepherd to the sheep.

I am in Year 13, and I agree this post. I followed a man twice my age who had been at the church for 17 years. He and I represented opposite ends of the spectrum on many issues. The church was slowly fading away and would have died without new leadership. When I was hired, I planned on preaching on Sundays (I lived an hour and a half away from the church at the time) and doing limited pastoral work. As the years went by, I stood with the church, and they stood with me. Some people left, but many more came once we began to engage the community. Around Year 5, people realized I didn’t plan on leaving even though I had finished school. I had a major health challenge in Year 6, but the church supported me throughout. Fast forward a few more years. I now live five minutes from the church building. I married a woman from the community. We have been blessed with numerical and spiritual growth. I know those things don’t happen every time, but if we quit before we really get to know and pastor the people, we for sure will not see the blessings that can come. I love this church, and they love me. We sort of saved each other in a way, and I know that the experience I have gained and the trust I have been given never would have come if I had quit at the first conflict.
Blessings on your ministry.

As I am a church planter I have not been through this however I watched an amazing transition at a Church here in Canberra where the previous Pastor spent ten weeks giving a short ten minute sermonette each week on ‘how to receive a new leader’ and what could be expected (how to handle changes etc).

They also did an array of other things that were so good 🙂

It was sooo good and the evidence has been seen in that Church hardly missing a beat.

I believe earning and building trust is the most crucial and it is what takes the most time. When trust has been established only then will members begin to let the pastor into their established circle of relationships and into their lives. And integrity is fundamental to earning trust.

As much as I wish it were different, we can’t really blame the churches for being hesitant to accept a new pastor. Pastoral turnover is high and often comes with the church being wounded in some way. I just began my third pastorate. I served 7 1/2 years in my last church, but the most fruitful years in terms of change were probably years 5 and 6. I had to earn their trust.

Now I serve a rural church which dates to 1846. They are ESTABLISHED, but they have welcomed my family right into the fold. I’d offer two key points to supplement your excellent work:

1) You have to love the people even before you know them. If you want to lead and effect change, you have to love and care for every member of that body with the love of Jesus.

2) You have to give them the truth. While you can’t necessarily bring about major change in policy, you can definitely show them the duties of Christians and churches by preaching systematically through the Scriptures. An early expository sermon series through the Book of Acts would be a great way to show them how church is supposed to look. Apply God’s truth to your church situation, and trust the Holy Spirit to move their hearts toward the necessary change.

As you love them and give them truth, and as you stick around through the difficulty, they will not only love you, but they will trust you to lead them.

Thanks for the wisdom, Dr. Rainer, and thanks for providing this site for pastors to learn!

This article is right on target. The insight you shared about shepherding through conflict and then gaining trust on the other side of it is especially helpful. For my first 5 years at the church I serve, my biggest goal was simply to become the pastor. The Lord has been gracious!

I am a ruling elder in an established congregation. Our pastor will have been here for six years in November. This was his first pastorate, and he was ordained here. His preaching ability is excellent, and his preaching has steadily improved during his time with us. Our congregation has experienced substantial growth. The median age of the congregation has dropped, and some have begun to assume leadership roles in the congregation. We have reached a threshold in which some things must change if that growth is to continue. Our pastor realizes that various aspects of church life need reorganization, and some new activities need implementation. Our pastor went through a very difficult time over a year ago with several members, and I temporarily feared that he might resign. It would have been catastrophic if he had. He stayed the course, and he was faithful to his pastoral calling. That had the effect of solidifying his standing with the congregation. There are some who do not care for the needed changes because it isn’t the way that things have been done in the past. Our pastor has also been helped because he has a good relationship with the previous pastor who often attends when he is not preaching as a guest or in a retirement facility. I have seen some of the stages discussed above in the life of our congregation. I appreciate the insights of the article and the many responses.

I am pastoring my 4th church. Took it 18 months ago at age 60. Followed a pastor who founded the church and had been there 20+ years. The church was in a survival mode due to last few years of last pastor he was sick and absent.
Early in first few months I had to deal with losing a staff member. Then the church had a large debt. I had to lead church early in opportunity to buy some needed property beside the church . There were also lots of things had been just neglected due to the pastors absence.
It has been a very difficult 18 months and made a toll on me physically causing me to have some health issues in my early tenure there. In spite of all that we have enjoyed the blessing of God. We lost quite a few people and several key leaders. But we also have seen a good number of new folks come to our fellowship.
Through all the challenges and obstacles little by little I am becoming their pastor. Most of the congregation has accepted me and they are beginning to trust my leadership. I told the leaders and still remind them it will take 5 yrs for me to get established. I ask God like Hezekiah to give me 15 yrs but will be happy with 10. I don’t think I have time to get the church where I would like to see it go but I hope to,prepare it for the next man and give him a growing healthy Scriptural church for him to lead in reaching the next generation. Good article .